Jonathan Mell

Candidate for YCSC President

Coming from Los Angeles, I arrived at Yeshiva University an outsider. Recognizing the many problems that we all face, I immediately went to work trying to cut through some of the difficulties of the YU system. After some time, I realized others were benefitting from the work that I was putting in. That, "al regel achas," is how I began to learn about the bureaucracy of our Yeshiva University.

What became clear, was that we - students, talmidim, and scholars - were not united enough to accomplish anything meaningful. Blaming one another for the obstacles that have hindered progress has become our primary obstacle.

But to borrow a phrase, there is nothing wrong with YU that cannot be fixed by what is right with YU. The past few YCSC administrations - the ones that most affected our current way of life - set a profound record of accomplishment, from which we each benefit every day. My goal, at this point in YCSC history, is to make student life better for every single student on this campus. The only way to accomplish this is through a concerted, single-minded effort, on behalf of the student leaders, representing the united voice of the entire student body.

I was recently asked what being a student leader means to me. In our system, I believe a "student leader" ought to be more of a representative, and less of a "honcho." I am not looking for an office. I seek synthesis of our student voice to achieve those deeds that we all require for better student life. This is why I have placed so much effort into my campaign, and why I have recruited a relatively large team to help get my ideas across. I don't believe using recycled campaign material reflects a sincere desire to work for the entire student body.

A leader is only as good as his poster? No, his proven track record.

Former mayor of Los Angeles, Albert Moulder, once said, "In leveled opposition, very entertained audiences have united voting appeal. Loud, open voices erupt between empty noises." What he meant was we must be clear about what we want. We have to expect from our elected students that which they pledge. When there are empty promises, unfulfilled gestures, or delusive pacts, we must turn to experience. The only meter by which to judge future returns, is by past capital. I place my track record on the table.

Perhaps the loudest complaint that is heard around campus is about YU Food Disservice. As a victim of this problem, I was privileged to co-chair the Food Services Committee. With the united voice of the student body behind us, we took the first step towards better food and lower prices.

The Student Life Committee meets every few weeks and consists of representatives of the student body and the upper-echelon-administrators. As an outsider to YCSC politics, my first exposure to this committee was as a representative of the MIS Society. The issue at hand was Ethernet in the dorms, something I'm still pushing for....We're getting there!

Since then, I've attended each and every meeting. I've had the privilege of addressing such issues as WYUR, van service to the airports, the recent Stern/YU carnival, more IHP apartments, availability of the Office of Placement and Career Services, more active Academic Advisement Center, easier registration, and on-line registration.

After leafing through next semester's course catalog and summer offerings, I was struck by the rather shvach size of the catalog. I asked myself how many times in the past few years I have been shut out of courses simply because there was only one. Another job which I will undertake next year is to work with the Academic Standards Committee, as well as establish a similar committee for those of us in the Syms School.

I hope this short survey of only a few of the many goals that I have for next year displays how sincerely I want to work for everybody. The most important message I wish to convey is that I am available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In order to take us through the 21st century as a true "top-tier" school, we must work together. Listening to the calls of my peers and responding to those suggestions is how I expect to accomplish every goal which we, together, set out to achieve.